Delivery mechanism



A, F. HARRIS. DELIVERY. MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1v 191s.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

5 SHEETSSHLET i.

5 SHEETS-SHE T 2.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920,

R Q R.

a n F k 4 A. F. HARRIS.

DELIVERY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I, 1916. 1,337,223.

{311 vs I l I0: alf dm ilIfotncl IIII II A. F. HARRIS.

DELIVERY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. I916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

31 .ucufoz 7%[14665 E151 attains 1 (flaw 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

A. F. HARRIS.

DELIVERY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I, 1916.

T; Maw y e BEEEF 1m u i M I. Z w \W J. QHHU Mg N \N g Ha HHHH 1 (zwess A. F. HARRIS. DELIVERY MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAY I. 1916.

6 rz m. a mm m4 m m e. m PU a M /w M H n m. A P

I IVcZWGJS UNITED s ATEs 'PATEN oFFIoE.

ALFRED. F. HARRIS, or WARREN, oH'Io', ASSIG-NOR TO. THE HARRIS AUTOMATIC PRESS COMPANY, OF NILEsoHIo, A CORPORATION oromo.

DELIVERY MECHANISM.

panying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to certain improvements in delivery mechanisms .Which are used in connection with printing or like machines, for taking the sheets or stock from the press or machine and transferring same to a-pile-receiving table which shall be automatically lowered to accommodate the growth of the pile of sheets.

The objects of my invention are, among other things, to provide an improved delivery mechanism whereby the sheetsor stock are first taken from a cylinder of the printing machine or press andare carried with a gradually decreasing speed, whereby the sheets are released and deposited ultimately on the pile on the receiving table at-a reduced speed, which is of great advantage in lessening the chance of injury to the stock or sheets. A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic guard device operatively connected by a clutch mechanism with the press-feeder, which advances the separate sheets of stock to the press, so that bythe throwing out of the feeder clutch by the tripping mechanism through the failure of any sheetin being properly presented to the impressioncylinder of the press, or, for any other reason when the feeder clutch is thrown out of operative contact, the delivery pile-lowering mechanism, connected with the stock-delivery mechanism and with the ,main part of the press, is automatically dis connected, thereby insuring that both .the

pile-feeding mechanism and the pile-delivembodiment of the invention in connection with an off-set printing press, the same Specification of Letters Patent.

.or type of serving, in connection with a sheet-feedento fully explain the invention, which is not restricted, however, to any particular formprinting-press or sheet-feeder construction. I 4

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side' elevation of the sheetdelivery mechanism showing a portion of a cylinder-press Fig. 2 is an enlarged'detailed side view of the operating mechanism for the delivery mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a cylinder-press and also-a diagrammatic illustratlon of a portion of a sheet-feeder adapted to feed sheets to the cylindenpress;

Fig. 4c is an enlarged sectional end view of a form of clutch-operating mechanism for the sheet-feeder and sheet-delivery mecha- F ig. 5 is a plan View) of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3-; j

Fig. .6 is an enlarged detail plan view of the sheet-slitting mechanism;

"Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the operating mechanism for the sheetreceiving table of the delivery mechanism;

Figs. 8 and "9 are detail views of a form of sheet-grippers; a

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views illustrating different arrangements of the sheet-conveying chains and grippers carried thereby.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920. Application filed Kay 1, 1916. "Serial No. 94,580. i

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to Fig. 3, the frame 13 supports the bearings of the form-cylinder 14:, the

transfer-cylinder 1 5, and the impressioncylinder 16, said cylinders being mounted on the shafts 17, 18, and 19 respectively, which are journaled in the frame 13, as shown. The cylinders are'so constructed and arranged in the frame 13 that the transfer-cylinder 15 forming a printing-couple with the impression-cylinder 16, receives its design from the form-cylinder 1%. The form, transfer and impression cylinders have each fastened thereto suitable gears whose pitch-diameter coincides with the periphery of the respective cylinders. These gears (not shown) intermesh and form the driving mechanism to secure proper rotation for the respective cylinders, the impression-cylinder rotating in a contra-clockwise direction, asshown by the arrow in Fig. 3. 20'indicates the skeleend of the shaft 36 carries the miter-gear 39- ton delivery cylinder, preferably constructed of a plurality of disks 21 of equal diameter with the impression-cylinder 16 mounted on the collars 22 secured to the .shaft 23, as shown in Fig. 6, the shaft 23 being journaled in the frame 13, as shown in Fig. 3. The skeleton delivery cylinder 20 has a suitable gear secured thereto (not shown) which intermeshes with the gear on the impressioncylinder 16, the cylinders 16 and 20 beingarranged to rotate at the same peripheral speed. The power is derived from any suitable source through the pulley 24 mounted on the pulley shaft 25, thence through the miter-gears 26 and 27, the gear 27 being mounted on the shaft 23 of the cylinder 20, as shown in Fig. 5, The delivery-cylinder 20 is driven in a clockwise direction, as

shown by the arrow in Fig. 3, by this mechanism, and the intermeshing gears on the impression, transfer and form cylinders .00- act to secure the proper rotation of the re spective cylinders. 28 designates a form of stock or sheet grippers (shown in Fig. 1)

carried by the delivery cylinder 20, which are arranged to successively seize the individual sheets from the impression-cylinder 16 and carrysame to the delivery mechanism proper. Since-these are common forms of printing machinery construction and are welLknown in the art, they need not be more fully shown or described.

Referring to Fig. 3, 29 indicates the frame of any suitable form of sheet-feeding device in which the upper feed roll 30 and the lower,

engaging with the miter-gear 40 secured to the horizontal shaft 41 journaled in the bracket 42, mounted in the frame 29. The

other end of the shaft 41 carries the positive clutch-member 43, adapted to engage with the clutch member 44 mounted on a shaft carrying the miter-gear 45 which engages with themiter-gear 46 mounted on the delivery-cylinder shaft 23, as shown in Fig. 5. When the clutch members 43 and 44 are in operative connection, the shafts 36 and 41 revolve in the. directions shown by the arrows in Fig. 3, and the feed rolls 30 and 31 rotate to advance the individual sheets to the left along the feed-table 32 to be seized by the gripping devices (not shown) on the impression-cylinder 16, and thence through the press.

The tripping mechanism for the feeder which automatically disconnects the feeder clutch device just described, comprises the.

'nected at 50 to the crank-plate 51 mounted on one end of the shaft 23, which mechanism, through the rotation of the shaft 23, imparts to the shaft 47 an oscillating movement. 52, 52 indicate two grooved collars rigidly secured to the shaft 47 Adjacent each grooved collar 52 is the disk'53 affixed to the end of the tubular shaft 54, which is loosely secured on, and incloses a portion of, the shaft 47, as shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 54 carries the arm 55, the outer end of which engages with the arm 56 mounted on the block 57 secured to the shaft 58 mounted in the frame 13. 59 indicates the trip-lever pivoted at 60 between the parallel sides of the grooved collars 52, so that its longer and heavier arm is held from falling-into the aperture 61 cut in the top of the feed-table 32 by the interposition of the sheet or stock 62, as shown in Fig.4. At the opposite end the lever 59 is T-shaped to form the tooth 63, and in the peripheries of the collars 52, and also in the periphery of the disk 53, are formed cut-outs 64 and 65 respectively. Ordinarily the tooth 63 rests against, or is in proximity to the periphery of the disk 53; it can engage with the cut=out 64 of the collars 52 only when the tooth can fall into the cut-out 65 of the disk 53. WVhen this union occurs, the disk 53 with'its shaft 54, which are normally at rest, are locked to, and turn with, the oscillating shaft 47. The entrance of this tooth 63 into locking engagement with the disk 53 will occur upon the failure or interruption in the feeding of the stock over the table 32. When the sheets 62 are in proper position, as shown in Fig. 4, the curved longer arm of the trip-lever 59 will engage therewith, and will be prevented from lowering in the aperture 61, and from turning sufficiently to interlock with the disk 53, as shown in Fig. 3. If the stock or sheets 62 should, at any time, be interrupted or absent, the longersarm of the lever 59 will fall of its own weight into the aperture 61, thereby causing the tooth 63 to interlock with the cut-out 65 in the disk 53. Thus the link-67 to the rock-arm 68 secured to the is secured to the shaft 69 and carries the roller 71 which engages in the annular groove 72' formed in the collar 73 affixed to the positive clutch-member .43, both of which are loosely sleeved about the 'shaft'41, as shown. When the lever 59 istripped to cause an oscillating movement to the shaft 54, the arm56 is moved to the left in Fig. 3, thereby giving an upward movement to the link'67, which then disconnects the clutch members 43 and 44 by a counter-clockwise movement of the arm 70. A hand-lever 74 may be secured to the shaft 69 to insure the disconnection of the clutch members at any desired *moment, as shown in Fig. 3.

Through this herein described mechanism, the absence or failure of feed of the stock while tripping the cylinders, also automatically disconnects the feeder from the press,

permitting the former to remain idle with no stock being fed forwardly, while the press itself rotates. This separation becomes desirable when running the cylinders and inking mechanism with the impression off, for example, in working up the ink on the rollers preparatory to printing.

-Referring to Fig. 6, 75 and 76 indicate two spaced-apart sprocket wheels mounted on the shaft 23, said wheels being of the same diameter as the disks 21 which constitute the skeleton deliverycylinder 20. Traveling beneath, and operated by, the sprocket wheels 75 and 76 are .two spacedapart endless sprocket chains 77 and 78,.

which are arranged to move with the same peripheral speed as the periphery of the cylinder 20. These sprocket chains 77 and 8 pass around two smaller sprocket wheels 79 and 80 respective1y,'mounted on a,transverse shaft 81 journaled 'in the frame 13, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The'chains 7 7 and 78 travel in the direction v of the arrows shown in Fig. 1, first moving in a horizontal direction from the delivery-cylinder 20, and then moving vertically around idler wheels 82'and83 mounted on the shafts 84 and 85 respectively, journaled in the frame 13, as shown. The upper loops of these chains 77 and 78 pass around the sprocket wheels 86 (only one being shown in Fig. 1), secured to a transverse shaft 87 journaled in brackets 88 and '89 secured to the pile-delivery frame 90, all as shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the two endless chains 77 and 78 are arranged at either side of the delivery-mechanism, and necessarily move simultaneously in the same directions and at the samespeeds with each other to carry the successive sheets from the cylinder 20, as will be understood by .those familiar with printing machinery construction.

These chains 77 and 78 carry means for transferring the sheets or stock from the travel with the pitch line of the chains and" therefore at the same speed at all times, and also with the same speed as that of the peripheries of the disks 21. In the present embodiment, the stock-engaging means or sheet grippers are shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. The particular structure of such grippers may be widely varied. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the grippers comprise a rock-shaft 91 carrying grippers 92 which are normally held in engagement with the collars 93 keyed on a rod 94, held in close parallelism with the shaft 91. The shaft 91 and the rod 94 travel in a difierent plane from that of the chains 77 and 78 and are mounted thereon so as to be held either inwardly or outwardly disposed from the parrier chains, as shown in Fig. 1. The device to accomplish this relationship comprises.

the frame 95 securely afiixed to thechains 77 and 78. The grippers 92 are normally held in engagement with the collars 93 by a spring 96 attached to and Wound around the shaft 91 and fastened to the frame 95, At one end, each shaft gripper shaft 91 carries an arm 97 bearing on its outer end a frictional roller 98 which, upon engagement with suitably located cams or other devices,

located on the apparatus, will effect the" opening of the grippers 92 at the proper times and in predetermined positions.

Referring to Figs. 1, 5 and 7, the pile-de-v livery frame 90 comprises two vertical members 99 and 100 (Fig. 7) spaced-apart sufliciently to accommodate the width of the stock orsheets, and two equally spacedapart horizontal members 101 and 102 (Fig. 5) supported on standards 103 (only one being shown in Fig. 1). 104 and 105 indicate I v two sets of endless chains horizontally disposed, and revolving at one end about the sprocket wheels 106 and 107 mounted on a common shaft 108 journaled in the members 101 and 102, as shown in Fig. 5.v At the other ends of horizontal members 101 and 102, the chains 104 and pass around the sprocket wheels 109 (only one being shown) mounted on a common shaft 110 journaled in the members 101 and 102. Thesechains travel inthe direction shown by the arrows in=Fig. 1,- and are driven by the sprocket chain 111 which passes around the sprocket gear 112 mounted on the shaft 87, and thence around the sprocket gear 113 mountedon before completing their travel around the sprocket w eels 106 and 107, and while traveling at an increased speed, due to their' elevated circular orbit, which is equal to the speed of travel of the chains 77 and 78. Immediately after the grippers seize the sheet, they move to the left in Fig. 1 ina straight horizontal direction across the top of the pile, which reduces the speed of travel of the sheet about one-third. The sheet is then released and dropped on the pile at this reduced speed, which is a decided advantage in lessening the chances of injury to the leading edges of the successive sheets. It is apparent that the speed of the successive sheets may be further reduced step by step by other sets of chains traveling at gradually diminishing speeds, as -may be found desirable in view of the character of the stock which is being delivered.

The. pile-delivery table 114, upon which the stock or sheets are stacked, is shown suspended by supporting chains 115 and 116 which pass over idler wheels 117 and 118,

and are then wound around the sprocket wheels 119 and 120 secured on the shafts 121 and 122respectively, journaled in the vertical members 99 and 100, as shown in Fig. 7. Between the two members 99 and 100, is journaled the transverse shaft 123 carrying two single-thread worms 124 and 125, being left-hand and right-hand threads respectively, as shown in Fig. 7. The worms 124 and125 engage the worm-gears 126 and 127 mounted on the shafts 121 and 122. One

end of the shaft 123 is squared to receive the removable hand-crank 128 which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

The means for automatically lowering the table 114 to compensate for the gradual growth of the pile of sheets upon such table comprises the following mechanism; journaled in the bracket 88 is shaft 129 which carries the gear 130 engaging withthe gear 131 secured'to the shaft 87, the size of the respective gears being such that the shaft 129 makesone revolution to each revolution of the impression-cylinder 16. Mounted onthe shaft 129 is the .cam 132 which engages the outer end of the rock-arm 133 pivoted on a stud in the bracket 88, the rock-arm being held in engagement with the cam 132 by a spring (not shown) coiled around the stud. The outer end of the arm 133.is connected by the-link 134 to the rock-arm 135, wh ch carries the rod 136 pivotally secured to the outer end .of the rock-lever 137 loosely mounted on the shaft 123 as shown in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 2, the inner end of the lever 137 carries the pivoted pawl 138 which engages the ratchet 139 keyed --to the shaft 123. The spring 140 holds the pawl 138' in engagement with the teeth of "the ratchet The oscillation of the lever 137 by the rotation of the cam 132 with each revolution of the press cylinders, gives a step-bystep rotation to the worms 124 and 125, thereby lowering thepile-receiving table 114 slightly to accommodate for the growth of the pile thereon.

To eliminate the necessity for a governor for controlling the height of the pile, acamshaped regulating disk 141 is provided, which is loosely mountedon the shaft 123. This disk is adjustable about the shaft by the spring latch-pin 142 mounted in the vertical member 99, as shown in Fig. 2, the pin 142 engaging with suitably formed teeth 143 out in the periphery of the disk 141. The.

handle 144 enables the operator to make this adjustment to suit the thickness of the stock;

the opposite end is beveled at 145 to adjustably cooperate with the pin 146 afiiXed to the pawl 138, thereby to control the number of teeth in the ratchet 139 to be'advanced at each reciprocation of this pawl, which is carried by the oscillating rock-lever" 137 which is operated as hereinbefore described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3,1 have provided automatic means to wholly disengage the pawl 138 from the ratchet- 139 which becomes operable when the clutch members 43 and 44 become disconnected by the failure 7 .or absenceof stock being fed to the press as heretoforeexplained, or, when for any reason it is desired to rotate the press mechanism without having'stock being fed thereto, in which case the pile-delivery mechanism should also cease its operation. Secured to the transverse shaft 69 is the arm 147 connected by the link 148 to the rock-arm 149 mounted on the end of the horizontally-disposed shaft 150 journaled in the brackets 151- and 152 secured to the frame 13. The opposite end of the shaft 150 carries the rock-arm 153 connected by the rod 154 to the bell-crank lever 155 journaled to the rockshaft 156 secured in the vertical member 99. The upper arm or guard 157 of the lever '155 is adapted to engage the pin 146 on the pawl 138, as shown in Fig. 7. .When the feeder'is tripped, and the clutch members 43 and 44 are separated, the above described mechanism simultaneously and automatically pulls the guard arm 157 to the left in Fig. 2, thereby striking the pin 146 and liftwith the main part of the press, although no sheets or stock were being delivered through such press and mechanism. To prevent this,

the above described automatic device is utilized so that the throwing out of the feeder clutch members instantly gives a partial rotation to theshaft 150 which in turn raises the elevated line marked 176, to travel more the guard arm 157 and separates the oscillating pawl 138' from its cooperating ratchetv 139, as has just been described, to disconnect the pile-lowering mechanism.

Referring to the diagrammatic illustra-f tions shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, I have here shown variations in the sheet-delivery chain mechanism involving the different sets of carrier chains with their stock-engaging while the grippers of the second set. 171

travel in an elevated line, as shown by the outer line; the speedof the second set of chains, horizontally disposed, is less than that, of the first set, but as the chains meet at the point 172 the grippers of the respective sets will be traveling at the same speed to properly transfer the sheets from the first set to the second set of carrier chains. I

In Fig. 11, I have shown a further variation in the use of two-obliquely disposed sprocket wheels 173 and 174 to form the upper loop of the first set of chains. Between the wheels 173 and 174 a fixed curved shoe 175 is securedaround whichthe first chain is compelled to travel between the sprocket wheels 173 and 174-. This ives a reverse curve to the path of the chains which causes the grippers, which are traveling in slowly than the. chain' itself, while transferring the sheet to the second of horizontally-disposed chains at, or adjacent to, the shoe 175, the grippers 1n thersecond set traveling in the elevated line; as shown at the transfer. .1.

' of the arrow. The grippers in the first set In Fig. 12, I'have shown another variation which is similar to that illustrated 'in Fig. 10, except that an idler sprocket wheel 177 is interposed between the two main sprocket'wheels for the second set of chains, which sprocket 177 produces a curve in the path of the chain moving in the direction of chains 170 travel in depressed lines, while the grippers in the second set 171 travel in the elevated line. As the chain passes over the sprocket 177, the grippers are brought more or less to a standstill, and the conveyed sheet or stock ceases its travel to the left during that moment when thecarrier 'chains are passing over this sprocket wheel a 177 when such sheet or stock is then being released to drop on the table 114. The operation of "the .hereinbefore de scribed delivery-mechanism is substantially,

as follows :When the clutch members 43' $5 and 44 are in operative contact, all the cylinprint said sheets or stock in the arrows shown in- Fig. 3. As the sheets successively pass in a clockwise direction on the cylinder 20, they are held under positive controlby the grippers 28 heretofore described. The sheets then pass to the stockengaging grippers on the chains 77 and 78 which are traveling at the face speed of the periphery of the delivery cylinder 20, and are thence carried first horizontally and then vertically, as shown in Fig. 1, until the chains 77 and 78 curve about the sprocket wheels, 86 on the shaft 87, when the stockengaging grippers, secured to the horizontally-disposed chains 104 and 105 which rotate at a reduced speed compared with the chains 77 and 78, carry same to the left,

as shown in Fig. 1, preferably at two-thirds such speed. As the chains 104 and 105 pass around the sprocket wheels 106 and 107, the

grippers, being elevated, move at the same speed as the pitch line of the chains 77 and .78,- the grippers on the chains 77 and 78 being so positioned that they receive and release the sheet on the pitch line of the chains 77 and 78. As the grippers meet, as

shown in Fignl, the grippers on the first set of chains release the sheet to beseiz'ed by the grippers secured to the chains 104 outwardly, so long as they deliver the leading edges of the successive sheets at the same speed atthe point of transfer from the first set of chains to the second set of chains, such iariations in the sizes of the sprockets and the formation and position of the grippers on the chains being accommodated to ac-'.

'ycomp'lish the result of a gradual reduction of speedin the successive changes of carrler chains in the delivery-mechanlsm,

.. whereby the sheets are deposited on the tablev 114 without injuring same.- While the sheets are being successively deliv'ered to the table 114 through the opera tion of the mechanism just described, such" table 114 is gradually lowered to accommcdate the growing height of the pile thereon through the lengthening of the supporting chains 115 and 116, which gradually unwind around the sprocket wheels 119 and 120 through the step-by-step rotation of the transverse shaft 123, brought about by the oscillating rock-lever 137 carrying the pawl 138 which operates one or more teeth of the ratchet 139, thereby imparting a slight rotation to the sprocket wheels 119 and 120 to lower the table 114 at each revolutionof the press, since the rock-lever 137 makes a single reciprocation with each revolution of the impression-cylinder, as has been heretofore described. The friction of the worms 124 and 125, co-acting respectively with the worm-gears 126 and 127 is usually sufficient to hold the pile-receiving table against lowering movement, except when actuated by the ratchet and pawl mechanism just described, although a light brake may be added if desired. After the accumulated pile has been removed from the table 114-, it may be raised to its elevated position by means of the hand-crank 128, the pawl 138 having been theretofore disengaged from the ratchet 139, the shaft 123 being rotated through the crank 128 in a reverse direction.

thereby to raise the table 114. The handcrank 128 is removable and is left off the shaft 123, except when in use to actually raise the table- 114.

Under normal conditions, the press cylinders are so arranged that if a sheet is not presented to the impression-cylinder 16, the automatic throw-off, shown more particularly in Fig. 4, trips the cylinders, and at the same time stops the entire press. At times, however, it isadvantageous to run the cylinders and inking mechanism with the impression off, for example, in working up the inkon the inking rollers, as has been heretofore described. At such times the feeder should'be disconnected and the auto matic guard feature, which is one of the obcylinder, or a positive disconnection is made by the raising of the hand-lever 74, the link .148 is vertically elevated,which gives a partial rotation to the shaft 150, which, through the arm 153 and rod 154, rocks the bellcrank lever 155, so that the guard arm 157 wholly disconnects the pawl 138 from the ratchet 139, which allows the rock-lever 137 to oscillate without in any way operatingthe pile-lowering mechanism just described. This automatic disconnection therefore simultaneously stops the feeder and disconnects the pile-lowering mechanism to the end that both .feeder and pile-lowering mechatransfer between the two sets, the speeds of the grippers shall be the same, to secure a true and even movement of the respective grippers at the point of transfer of the sheets from one setto the succeeding-set.

While the construction described embodies the inventionin its preferred form, it will be understood that changes and variations may be made therein without departin from the invention.

t is to be further understood that while constructions embodying the invention are particularly adapted for use in connection with printing machines they may be employed in other relations.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with an endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a constant speed, of a second endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a different constant speed, stock-engaging means mounted on each of said carriers, and means for causing the stock-engaging means on one carrier to momentarilytravel at the same speed as the stock-engaging means on the other carrier, while transferring the stock from one carrier to the other carrier without changing the speed' of the carriers.

2. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with an endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a constant speed, of a second endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a different constant speed, stock-engaging means mounted on each of said carriers, and means for changing the speed of one of said stock-engaging means, while transferring the stock from one carrier to the other carrier without changing the speed of either carrier.

3. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with an endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a constant speed, of a second endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a different constant speed, stock-engaging means mounted on each of said carriers, and means for changing the speed of one of said stock-engaging means, while transferring the stock from one carrier to the other carrier without changing the speed of either carrier.

.4.-"In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a plurality of endless, flexible carriers each having a loop-path, each traveling at different relative speeds, of a like plurality of stock-engaging means mounted on each of said carriers, and means'for temporarily equalizing the speed of travel of a stock-engaging means on one carrier with a V stock-engagmg means of another carrier, while transferring the stock from one carrier to the other carrier. v

5. In a delivery mechanism,-the combination with a plurality of endless, flexible carriers each having a loop-path, one of which travels at a different relative speed, stockengaging means mounted on each carrier,

and means for temporarily equalizing the h speed of travel of the stock-engagingmeans on each carrier with the stock-engaging means on another carrier while transferring the stock from one carrier tov another carrier.

6. In adelivery mechanism, the combination with a plurality of endless, flexible carriers each having a loop-path, one of which travels at Ya difl'erent relative speed, stockengaging means mounted on each carrier,

, and means for temporarily equalizing the speed of travel of the stock-engaging means on each carrier with the stock-en aging means on another carrier while trans erring the stock from one carrier to another carrierwithout clian'gingthe relative speeds of said carriers.

'7. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a cylinder of a printing or like machine, of an endless flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a-constant speed, a second endless flexible carrier having a',1oop-path and moving at a different constant speed, stock-engaging means mount ed on each of said carriers, and means for causing the stock-engaging means on one carrier to 'momentarily travel at the same speed as the stock-engaging means on the other carrier, while transferring the stock from one carrier to the other carrier without changing the speed-of the-carriers.

, 8. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a cylinder of a printing or like machine, of an endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path andmoving at a constant speed, a second endless flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a diiferent constant speed, stock-engaging means mounted on each of said carriers, and means for changing the speed of one of said stock-engaging means, while transferring the-stock from one carrier to the'other carrier without changing the speed of either carrier,

9. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a cylinder of a printing or like ma-,

china-of an endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a constant speed, a second endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a difierent constant on each of said carriers, and means for temporarily equalizing the speed of travel of a stock-engaging means on one carrier with a stock-engaging means of another carrier, while transferring the'stock from one carrier to the other carrier.

1-1. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a cylinder of a printing or like machine, of a plurality of endless, flexible carriers each having a loop-path, one of which travels at a different relative speed, stock-engaging means mounted on each carrier, and means for temporarily equalizing the speed of travel of the stock-engaging means on each carrier with the stock-engag-. ing means on another carrier, while transferring the stock from other carrier. 1

12. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a cylinder of a printing or' like machine, of a plurality of endless, flexible carriers each having a loop-path, one of which travels at a different relative speed, stock-engaging means mounted on each carrier, andmeans for temporarilyequalizing one carrier to anthe speed of travel of the stock-engaging means on each carrier with the stock-engaging means on another carrier, while transferring the stock from one carrier to another carrier without changing the relative speeds of said carriers.

13. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with an endless, flexible carrier having 'a loop-path and moving at a constant speed, ofa second endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a difierent constant speed, stock-engaging means mounted on each of said carriers, means for causing the stock-engaging meanson one carrier to m0- mentarily travel at the same s eed as the stock-engaging means on the ot er carrier,

While transferring the stock from one carrier to the other carr1er,,and'means forflreducing the speedof the stock-engaging means on the other carrier before releasing said stock.

14. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with an endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a constant speed, of a second endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a different constant speed, stock-engaging means mounted on 9 each of said carriers, means for changing the speed of one of said stock-engaging means, while transferring the stock from one carrier to the other carrier Without changing the speed of either carrier, and means for reducing the speed of the stock engaging means on the second carrier before releasing said stock.

' 15. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with an endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at a constant speed, of a second endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and moving at. a different (onstant speed, stock-engaging means mounted on each of said carriers, means for changing the speed of one of said stock-engaging means, while transferring the stock from one carrier to the other carrier without changing the speed ofeither carrier, and means for reducing the speed of the stock-engaging means on the other carrier before releasing said stock.

16. In a delivery mechanism, the combina the speed of the stock-engaging meanson the other carrier before releasing said stock. 17. In a delivery mechanism, the com binatlon with a plurality of endless,flexible carriers each having a loop path one or more of which travel at different relative speeds,

stock-engaging means mounted on each carrier, means for temporarily equalizing the speed of travel of the stock-engaging means on each carrier with the stock-engaging means on another carrier, while transferring the stock from one carrier to another carrier, and means for reducing the speed of the stock-engaging means on the other carrier before releasing said stock.

18. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a plurality of endless, flexible carriers each having a loop-path one'or more of which travel at different relative speeds. stock-engaging means mountedon each carrier, means for temporarily equalizing the speed of travel of the stock-engaging means on one carrier with the st ck-engaging means on another carrier, while transferring the stock from one carrier to another carrier without changing the relative speeds of said carriers, and means for reducing the speed of the stock-engaging means on the other carrier before releasing said stock.

19. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a cylinder of a printing or like machine, of a constantly moving endless, flexiat the face speed of said cylinder, stock-en gaging means mounted thereon to take stock directly from said cylinder, a second constantly moving endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and cooperatin with, and traveling at a speed less than, sald first carrier, stock-engaging means mounted thereon to travel, while transferring the stock from said first carrier, at the same speed as the first carrier, and means for releasing the stock from said second carrier when traveling at its normal reduced speed.

20. In a delivery mechanism, the combination With a cylinder of a printing or like machine, of a constantly-moving endless, flexible carrier having a,loopath and traveling at stock-engaging means mounted thereon to take stock directly from said cylinder, a second constantly-moving endless, flexible carrier,havinga loop-path and cooperating with and traveling at a speed less than, said first carrier, a plurality of stock-engaging means mounted thereon to travel, while transferring the stock from said first carrier, at the same speed as the first carrier, and means for releasing the stock from said second carrier when traveling at its normal reduced speed.

21. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a delivery-cylinder of a printing or like machine, of a constantly-moving endless, fiexible carrier having a loop-path and traveling at the face speed of said cylinder, stock-engaging means mounted thereon to take stock directly from said cylinder, a second constantly-moving carrier cooperating with, and traveling at a speed less than, said first endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and stock-engaging means mounted thereon to travel, while transferring the stock from said first carrier, at the same speed'as the first carrier, and means for releasing the stock from said second carrier when traveling at its normal reduced speed.

22. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a delivery-cylinder of a printing or like machine, of a constantly-moving endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and traveling at the face speed of said cylinder, a plurality of stock-engaging means mounted thereon to take stock'directly from said cylinder, a second constantly-moving endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and coo'perating with, and traveling at a speed less than, said first carrier, a plurality of stockengaging means mounted thereon to travel, While transferring the stock from said first carrier, at the same speed as the first car rier, and means for releasing-the stock from normal reduced speed.

23. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with acylinder of a printing or like machine, of a constantly moving' endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and travtake stock directly from said cylinder, and traveling in the pitch line of said carr1er,-a

' second constantly-moving endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and cooperatlng with, and traveling at a speed less than, said first carrier, stock-engaging means mounted thereon to travel, while transferring the stock from said first carrier, at the same speed as the first carrier, andmeans for releasing the stock from said second carrier when traveling at its normal reduced speed.

24. In a delivery mechanism, the combi-.

nation with a cylinder of a printing or like machine, of a constantly-moving endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and traveling at the face speed of said cylinder, a I

plurality of stock-engaging means mounted thereon to take stock directly from said cylinder, and traveling in the pitch line of said carrier, a second constantly-moving endless,

fiexible carrier having a loop-path and cooperating with, and traveling at a speed less than, said first carrier, a plurality of stockengaging means \mounted thereon to travel,

while transferring the stock from said first carrier,'at the same speed as the first carrier,

and means for releasing the stock from saidsecond carrier when traveling at its normal I reduced speed:

25. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a delivery-cylinder of a printing or like machine, of a constantly-moving end= less, flexible carrier having a loop-path and traveling at the face speed of said cylinder, stock-engaging'means mounted thereon to take stock directly from said cylinder, and traveling in the pitch line of said carrier, a second constantly-moving endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and cooperating with, and traveling at a speed less than, said first carrier, stock-engaging means mounted thereon to travel, while transferring the stock from said first carrier, at the same speed as the first carrier, and means for releasing the stock from said second carrier when traveling at its normal reduced 26. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a'delivery-cylinder of a printing or like machine, of a constantly-moving endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and traveling at the face speed of said cylinder, a plurality ofstock-engaging means mo ted thereon to take stock directly from sa d r a speed less than, said first; carrier, a

plurality of stock-engaging means mounted i'thereoir' to travel, while transferring the stock from said first carrier, at the same speed as the first'carrier, and means carrier when traveling at its normal reduced speed.

27'. In a delivery mechanism, the combination with a cylinder of a printing or like machine, of aconstantly-moving endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and traveling at the face speed of said cylinder, stock-engaging means, mounted thereon to take stock directly from said cylinder, a second constantly-moving endless, flexible carrier having a loop-path and cooperating with, and traveling at a speed less than, said first carrier, stock-engaging means mounted thereon, means for accelerating the speed of travel of said stock-engaging means on the second carrier to that of said first carrier, while transferring the stock from said first carrier, and means for reducing the speed of the stock-engaging means on said second carrier before releasing the stock.

28. The combination with a printing or -like machine, of a sheet-feeding device to advance successive sheets tosald machlne, a.

vance successive sheets to said machine, a

sheet-delivery mechanism to carry the sheets to a pile-receiving table, both sheet-feeding and delivery mechanisms being actuated by said machine, means, operable by the delivery mechanism, for automatically lowering said table as the sheets accumulate thereon,

means for simultaneously disconnecting said sheet-feeding device and means actuated by said last-mentioned means to simultaneously stop said table-lowering means. 30. The combination with 'a printing or like machine, of a sheet-feeding device to advance successive sheets towsaid machlne,

a sheet-delivery mechanism to' carry the sheets to a pile-receiving table, both sheetfeeding and delivery mechanism .being actuated by said machine, means, operable by the delivery mechanism, for automatically lowering said table as the sheets accumulate thereon, means, controlled by the failureof the sheet feed, for disconnecting said sheetfeeding device and means actuated by said last-mentioned means to stop said tablelowering means. 2 I

31. The combination with a printing or like machine, of a sheetefeeding device to advance successive sheets to said machine,

a sheet delivery mechanism to carry the sheets to a pile-receiving table, both sheetfeeding and delivery mechanisms being actuated by said machine, means, operable by the delivery mechanism, for automatically lowering said table as the sheets accumulate thereon, means, controlled by the failure of 'the,sheet feed, for simultaneously disconnecting said sheet-feeding device and means actuated by said last-mentioned means to simultaneously stop said tablelowering means.

32. The combination with a printing or like machine, of a sheet-feeding device to advance successive sheets -to said machine, a sheet-delivery mechanism to carry the sheets'to a pile-receiving tablc, both sheetfeeding and. delivery mechanisms being actuated by said machine, means, operable by the delivery mechanism, for automatically lowering said table as the sheets accumulate thereon, hand-operated means for disconnecting said sheet-feeding device and means actuated by said last-mentioned" means to stop said-table-lowering means at will.

The combination with a printing or like machine, of a sheet-feeding device to advance successive sheets to said machine, a sheet-delivery mechanism to carry the sheets to a pijleareceiving table, both sheet-.

feeding and delivery mechanisms being actuated by said machine, means, operable by the delivery mechanism, for automatically lowering said table as the sheets accumulate thereon, hand-operated means for simultaneously disconnecting said sheet-feeding device and means actuated by said lastmentioned means to simultaneously stop said table-lowering means at will.

34. The combination with a printing or like machine, of a sheet-feeding device to advance successive sheets to said machine, a sheet-delivery mechanism to carryathe sheets to a pile-receiving table, both sheetfeeding and delivery mechanisms being actuated by said machine, means, operable by the delivery mechanism, for automatically lowering said table as the sheets accumulate thereon, automatic means, controlled by the failure of the sheet feed, for simultaneously disconnecting said sheet-feeding device from the printing machine and means actuated by sa1d last-mentioned means to stop said table-lowering means.

36. The combination with a printing or like machine, of a sheet-feeding device to advance successive sheets to said machine, a sheet-delivery mechanism to carry the sheets to a pile-receiving table, both sheet-feeding and delivery mechanisms being actuated by said machine, means, operable by the delivery mechanism, for automatically lowering said table as the sheets accumulate thereon, means, comprising a sheet-controlled tripping device, for disconnecting said sheetfeeding device and means actuated by said last-mentioned means to stop said table-lowering means.

37. The combination with a printing or like machine, of a 'sheet-feeding device to advance successive sheets to said machine, a sheet-delivery mechanism to carry the sheets to a pile-receiving table, both sheet-feeding and delivery mechanisms being actuated by said machine, means, operable by the deliv ery mechanism, for automatically lowering said table as the sheets accumulate thereon, means, comprising a sheet-controlled tripping device, for simultaneously disconnecting said sheet-feeding device and means ac: tuated by said last -mentioned means to simultaneously stop said table lowering means.

38. The combination with a printing or like machine, of a sheet-feeding device to advance successive sheets to said machine, a sheet-delivery mechanism to carry the sheets to a pile-receiving table, both sheet-feeding and delivery mechanisms being actuated by said machine, means, operable by the delivery mechanism, for automatically lowering said table as the sheets accumulate thereon, automatic means, comprising a sheet-controlled tripping device, for disconnecting said sheet-feedingdevice and means actuated by said last-mentioned means to stop sa1d table-lowering means.

39. The combination with a printing or likemachine, of a sheet-feeding device to 

